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Video: Picking sides between U.S., Iran

UNITED NATIONS — Key Security Council nations agreed Tuesday to present Iran with a choice of benefits or sanctions in deciding whether to suspend uranium enrichment, a move that will delay a U.N. resolution to curb Iran’s nuclear program, a European official said.

Political directors from the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France as well as Germany made the decision to present Tehran with the possible carrots and sticks at a meeting after their foreign ministers failed Monday night to reach agreement on the resolution.

As a result of Tuesday’s decision, political directors from the three European countries that had been spearheading negotiations with Iran will spend the next few days preparing a package of benefits and sanctions, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made.

The package will be presented to European Union foreign ministers on the sidelines of an EU meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday, and when approved will be presented to the Iranian government, the official said.